Psychological reactance theory assumes that the restriction of valued behaviors elicits anger and negative cognitions, motivating actions to regain the limited freedom. Two studies investigated the effects of two possible restrictions affecting COVID-19 vaccination: the limitation of non-vaccination by mandates and the limitation of vaccination by scarce vaccine supply. In the first study, we compared reactance about mandatory and scarce vaccination scenarios and the moderating effect of vaccination intentions, employing a German quota-representative sample (N = 973). In the preregistered second study, we replicated effects with an American sample (N = 1394) and investigated the consequences of reactance on various behavioral intentions. Results revealed that reactance was stronger when a priori vaccination intentions were low and a mandate was introduced or when vaccination intentions were high and vaccines were scarce. In both cases, reactance increased intentions to take actions against the restriction. Further, reactance due to a mandate was positively associated with intentions to avoid the COVID-19 vaccination and an unrelated chickenpox vaccination; it was negatively associated with intentions to show protective behaviors limiting the spread of the coronavirus. Opposite intentions were observed when vaccination was scarce. The findings can help policy-makers to curb the spread of infectious diseases such as COVID-19.

中文翻译：

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重新审视反应：在 COVID-19 的情况下强制和稀缺疫苗接种的后果

心理反作用理论认为，对有价值行为的限制会引发愤怒和消极认知，从而促使人们重新获得有限的自由。两项研究调查了影响 COVID-19 疫苗接种的两种可能限制的影响：强制规定对非疫苗接种的限制和疫苗供应稀缺对疫苗接种的限制。在第一项研究中，我们使用德国配额代表样本（N  = 973）比较了对强制性和稀缺疫苗接种情景的反应以及疫苗接种意图的调节作用。在预先注册的第二项研究中，我们用一个美国样本（N = 1394）并调查了电抗对各种行为意图的影响。结果表明，当先验的疫苗接种意图较低且引入了强制要求时，或者当疫苗接种意图较高且疫苗稀缺时，反应更强。在这两种情况下，反抗都增加了对限制采取行动的意图。此外，由于任务导致的反应与避免 COVID-19 疫苗接种和不相关的水痘疫苗接种的意图呈正相关；它与表现出限制冠状病毒传播的保护性行为的意图呈负相关。当疫苗接种稀缺时，观察到相反的意图。这些发现可以帮助政策制定者遏制 COVID-19 等传染病的传播。